Friendship knows no boundaries at VT equestrian center

Friendships come in all shapes and sizes, between different ages, races, and genders, and – on one farm in Vermont – different species.
A very young, very sick horse, abandoned by her mother was, in essence, saved by a couple of barn-mates who were looking for friends.
When Tilley was born almost four months ago, she was frail, sick, and under-developed.
Jamie Fell\Fell-Vallee Equestrian Ctr. “She was teeny, teeny, teeny.”
Tilley, who weighed less than 50-pounds, was having seizures and was unconscious much of the time.

Retired horses get new home, thanks to inmates

Four retired racehorses from Suffolk Downs have a new home, thanks to some inmates.

Some inmates from Plymouth County helped build stalls in a barn on the sheriff’s department farm. They will take care of up to 40 horses ad the program expands.

The track on Tuesday delivered four recently retired horses.

Suffolk Downs owner Richard Fields has pledged not to send any horses from the track to slaughter. He says once you make that promise, you have to back it up. The track worked with the Retired Thoroughbred Foundation and the sheriff’s department to set up the new barn.

Mass. group struggles to aid needy horses

Nevins Farm, already struggling to handle the animals in its care, is on course to receive a record number of horses this year. 37 have already been given to the MSPCA and the owners of eight others are scheduled to drop their horses off within the next few weeks.

Farm officials are scrambling to find foster or adoptive homes for the horses in this tough economy.

Click here to read more from The Boston Globe.

MSPCA seeks homes, donations for horses

The MSPCA at Nevins Farm is receiving a record number of surrendered equines and seeking adopters as well as donations for the homeless horses’ continued rehabilitation and medical care. The number of horses surrendered to the non-profit in 2009 will surpass last year’s total by early September, with 13 horses scheduled to be surrendered in the next few weeks. The boom in surrenders is expected to increase in the fall and winter months as the weather grows cold and purchased hay becomes a premium as grazing will no longer be a viable option.

“Since Nevins Farm is the region’s only open admissions animal care and adoption center for farm animals and horses, we are experiencing a tremendous increase in surrendered horses due to the poor economy,” said Melissa Ghareeb, Manager of the Nevins Farm Equine & Farm Animal Adoption Center. “We spend months rehabilitating horses that arrive in all states of care, from healthy and strong to walking skeletons with a history of malnutrition. The growing number of horses in our care also strains our financial resources at an average of $320 every month to care for each horse.”

This gives whole new meaning to wild horses…

Tourists enjoying the fabled and pastoral views of Israel’s northern Galilee region got more than they bargained for this week when horses galloped onto a highway and had a run-in with an oncoming car.

The video, filmed by the tourists and aired on Israel’s Channel 2, showed three horses galloping down the highway to the astonishment of passing motorists. As the horses neared an oncoming car, one of the animals leapt over the vehicle, crashing into the windscreen.

Bad economy takes its toll on horse care

Amid woeful economic times, it is not only people who are suffering. An extraordinary number of horses are being surrendered to the non-profit Equine Center at Nevins Farm in Methuen, Massachusetts. The MSPCA is immediately seeking foster homes until permanent homes can be found. The MSPCA continues to receive surrendered horses at an alarming average rate of one per week.

Ashton’s Fund is designated for the medical care for horses and farm animals.
Every donation counts, no matter what the amount may be.
Contributions can be mailed to the MSPCA’s Equine Center, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844, attention Ashton’s Fund or by clicking here now.